Task force urges Alaska scholarship account

FAIRBANKS - A task force has asked the Alaska Legislature to create a new state scholarship account.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the recommendation also includes provisions for lower-income students in a previously approved merit-based scholarship program.

Modeled after programs elsewhere, the "performance scholarship" program will reward students with thousands of dollars in aid if they take more difficult course loads, earn good grades and score average or better on entrance exams.

The task force suggested Thursday that lawmakers start setting aside extra money now to make the program "both self-sufficient and self-sustaining."